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Shen
Build Guide by Bligen97

This build has been archived and is for historical display only.

PLEASE NOTE: This build has been archived by the author. They are no longer supporting nor updating this build and it may have become outdated. As such, voting and commenting have been disabled and it no longer appears in regular search results.

Not Updated For Current Season

This guide has not yet been updated for the current season. Please keep this in mind while reading. You can see the most recently updated guides on the browse guides page.

Shen is a very strong top laner, he can sustain very well in lane and provide global support to his team after level 6 with Stand United, he can also completely turn a teamfight arround with a well used Shadow Dash.

Shen's Stats

Shen's stats without items/runes/masteries:

Damage 54.5 (+3.375/level)

Health 428 (+85/level)

Energy 200 (+0/level)

Movement Speed 335

Armor 15 (+4/level)

Magic Resistance 30 (+0/level)

Health Regeneration 7.45 (+0.55/level)

Enery Regeneration 50 (+0/level)

Simple explanation of the guide: At the top click any chapter's name you want to check out, then after you finish reading you can click Table of Contents at the right side above every single banner and come back to the top! Enjoy!

When playing a top lane Shen you need to be tanky, so I focus my masteries in the defensive tree.

Mastery explanations: Summoner's Wrath - This mastery increases your attack damage and ability power by 5 while Ignite is on cooldown, which might not be very much, but it's same as 3points in Brute Force (not possible) and 2.5points in Mental Force all in 1point.

Fury - This mastery is just to get additional points to advance in the offensive tree, and it's better than the 3% cooldown reduction.

Durability and Veteran's Scars - These masteries provide you with a total of 136health at lv18 which isn't a huge amount, but it's the best you can get while advancing in the defensive mastery tree.

Hardiness and Resistance - These masteries give you 5armor and 5magic resistance, this amount becomes useless lategame sure, but early game it can make a huge difference.

Unyielding and Block - These two masteries reduce the damage you take from enemy champion basic attacks by 5, it might not be late game, but early game when you use mostly basic attacks, it can save your life.

Relentless and Tenacious - These two masteries make you virtualy onslowable unless you're being attacked by a wild Ashe! Combined with some tenacity items this means you can ignore most of the enemy team's crowd control and stay active.

Honor Guard - This is pretty self-explanatory, it reduces damage taken from all sources by 3%, meaning you take 3% less damage! So it will take 3% more time to kill you. The point is - it makes you tankier!

greater mark of hybrid penetration - These marks give you a nice boost in both armor and magic penetration, meaning you will deal more damage with your basic attacks and spells.

Greater Seal of Armor - These seals provide you with a decent boost in flat armor, which means you can have an easier laning phase, because you can freeze the lane easily, and won't take as much damage from taunted targets. If enemy top laner is AP you can change these for Greater Seal of Scaling Armor.

Greater Quintessence of Movement Speed - These quintessence provide you with a nice boost in movement speed, which means you can roam a lot more, and be more mobile during fights which is always a nice thing.

When playing Shen I usualy take Flash and Ignite since it provides you with many posibilities: Flash-> Shadow Dash to taunt an opponent without him reacting, or simply Flash away from sticky situations aswell as finishing off an opponent, or reduce someone like Volibear from healing, as Ignite has the grevious wounds affect which reduces the healing by 50%.

Other viable summoner spells Teleport - Teleport is a viable choice, because it gives Shen huge global presence, not only do you have Stand United to save your teammates and get a kill, but you can also use Teleport, so you have even more splitpushing potential.

Exhaust - Exhaust is a viable choice when you think your opponent will be dishing out a lot of heavy damage and you need to weaken him, it can also be taken when your team refuses to use anything besides Ignite

Ghost - Ghost is a viable choice when you have Shen completely mastered and dominate most of the games, but it's better used with more damage-oriented builds.

Ki Strike - This is Shen's passive ability, it makes it so that every 8seconds his auto attack deals additional magic damage equal to 4 x his level + 10% of BONUS health, and regenerate him 10/20/30energy. The cooldown of this also reduces by 1second every time Shen hits an opponent with a basic attack.

Vorpal Blade - This is Shen's Q ability, it throws a sword at a target opponent dealing magical damage, and healing anyone who attacks the target within 5second for 1.5% of Shen's maximum health. If this attack lasthits a target, it will trigger only 33% of the heal affect.

Feint - This ability gives Shen a decent shield for 70/115/160/205/250 (+60% of ability power), which lasts for 3seconds or until it's broken obviously. Also while Feint is active, Ki Strike's cooldown is reduced by 2seconds for each basic attack instead of 1second.

Shadow Dash - This ability is Shen's taunt, it makes him dash a short distance and taunts all enemy champions in the path for 1.5seconds, obviously also dealing damage along the way. For every champion hit - this ability restores Shen 40energy, so the 120energy cost is refunded if used it's used well.

Stand United - This is Shen's ultimate ability, when cast on an ally champion, it grants him a shield which absorbs 250/550/850 (+150% of AP) damage, and after a 3second cast time, if Shen isn't interrupted (silence, stun, knockup) he teleports to the ally.

Ability Sequence

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Vorpal Blade - Maxed first, since it provides a lot of sustain in lane, and provides health regeneration for your allies aswell.

Feint - Maxed second, as it provides a nice shield, but doesn't last very long and doesn't help your teammates in any way.

Shadow Dash - Maxed last, but a point in it at lv2, as it can be a great escape method if getting ganked, or can lock down an opponent if your jungler is there. In teamfights it can save your team big time if you taunt the right people, as while taunted they are unable to use an abilities or attack anyone else.

Stand United - Put points in it whenever possible, because it reduces the cooldown which means you can splitpush more often, and increases the shield which means you can turn a fight arround big time.

First recall:
On your first trip back there's a lot of things you can do depending on how you played out your lane. If you farmed well, and got a couple of kills get a Sunfire Cape and Boots of Speed, if you haven't been doing so well get Giant's Belt, if your opponent is a heavy AD champion Chain Vest, if your opponent is AP get Mercury's Treads early.

Example build #1: Mercury's Treads - These boots provide you with tenacity which reduces the duration of crowd control, so you can spend less time stunned and more time taunting everyone!

Sunfire Cape - This item provides you with a nice boost in armor and health, which are both very useful for Shen, but it also deals a lot of damage with the passive if the teamfight goes on.

Wit's End - This item provides you with a nice boost in attack speed and magic resistance, it also makes your basic attacks deal extra 42magic damage and steal 5magic resist from your target, so your Sunfire Cape deals even more damage!

Randuin's Omen - This item gives you a nice boost in armor and health, but the passive and active are also nice, it reduces the attack and movement speed of people attacking you, while the active slows only the movement speed for targets arround you.

Frozen Mallet - This item gives you a nice boost in health, and some attack damage, but the main reason to get it is the on-hit slow which means it will be easier for your team to catch up and finish off the opponents.

Item Sequence

Sunfire Cape2900

Wit's End2500

Warmog's Armor2850

Randuin's Omen2900

Frozen Mallet3100

Example Build #2 Ninja Tabi - These boots provide you with a nice boost of armor, aswell as blocking 10% damage dealt by basic attacks, so you can tank AD carries more easily.

Zephyr - This item provides you with attack speed, movement speed and attack damage boosts, which are all quite useful for Shen, but the main reason to get this is the tenacity which you don't get since you replaced Mercury's Treads with Ninja Tabi.

Wit's End - Still an essential item for damage oriented Shen, as it deals more damage on-hit and reduces opponent's magic resistance.

Sunfire Cape - This item provides you with a bit of tankyness, aswell as giving you the burn which works extremely well with Wit's End's passive.

Maw of Malmortius - This item gives you some magic resistance which is quite useful, aswell as giving you some attack damage so you can deal more damage! Also the passive can save your life multiple times throughout the game.

Frozen Mallet - This item makes you tankier, because Shen will always remain a tank, no matter what, but gives you nice damage and sticking potential.

Item Sequence

Zephyr2850

Wit's End2500

Sunfire Cape2900

Maw of Malmortius3250

Frozen Mallet3100

Situational Items: Spirit of the Ancient Golem - This item is considered jungler-only item by some people, but it provides a very nice boost of health, health regen and gives you tenacity, which can be useful if you don't get Mercury's Treads.

Guardian Angel - This item gives you very nice defensive stats, making you quite a bit tankier and pretty much giving you a second life! But sadly this item has no offensive uses, and will be useless and even wasted if you get cought out.

Thornmail - This item works very well against teams that have heavy AD champions, and even if they don't focus you, you can always taunt them and make them attack you that way. But this item is pretty much useless against AP champions as it doesn't reflect spell damage.

Trinity Force - This item gives you a little bit of everything, but isn't the best choice if you're behind. It only helps if you're ahead and want to extend your lead by having more offensive stats like a slow, a spellblade and so on.

Early game:In early game phases, try to play passive and not get too aggresive, early game Shen is not made for dueling. Just sit back, and lasthit minions, if you have to move up to lasthit, first of all throw Vorpal Blade. If you get poked and need to heal up, stop just last hitting with Vorpal Blade, throw it at a minion with low hp, but not low enough to kill it, then use basic attack on it - that way it will heal you three times as much.

Accepting ganks:

Escaping:

Lv2 All-In: Shen has an amazing first blood rate, because of his extremely powerful lv2. Best tactic for it would be to let the opponent push the first wave of minions a little bit, so he has to come out further from his tower and you have better chances to kill him, when the second wave of minions comes start pushing it, you need to get lv2 before your opponent. Once you kill enough minions for lv2, quickly Shadow Dash on the enemy, and throw Vorpal Blade on him (I suggest using control lvlup to upgrade skills fast), this way you get some good crowd control on him, and heal up if he hits you back. And since you pushed the lane your opponent probobly isn't lv2 yet, so you have additional attack damage and defenses to beat him.

Late game:Once everyone starts grouping, you should stay as far away from your team as possible and splitpush (with ward obviously) if your Stand United is up, because you can splitpush and ether your opponents will have to send someone to stop you (most likely two people) and your team can engage, or they lose tower. And if your opponenets initiate simply use Stand United and get in the fight making it 5v5 again!

Split-pushing:

Teamfights:In teamfights, try to Shadow Dash through as many opponents as possible, as soon as possible. Because if you taunt the enemy AP carry, it means they won't be able to burst your squishy teammates, and won't even be able to use spells at all, if you taunt AD carry, they will focus all they damage on you, while your team hammers on them. But try to avoid putting yourself in a bad spot, where you wouldn't have any chance of escaping if your teammates die. So once you Shadow Dash, throw Vorpal Blade on the champion that your team is focusing, that way your teammates regenerate health whenever they hit him. Once the opponents start focusing you, use Feint to deny some of that damage. If you see that it's going bad because of your opponent team's damage over time to your carry, use Stand United point blank range just for the shield, that might save the teamfight. And remember to always hit the same target as your AP carry, since you have Wit's End you can reduce a target's magic resistance by 25, which is better than Sorcerer's Shoes or Liandry's Torment penetration!

Late to fights:

Late to the fight:Lets say you were splitpushing, but your team decided to go all-in, or you got cought a bit earlier and died. Well that is no problem if you have Stand United ready. Simply wait until the fight breaks out, and seek out the teammate that your opponents are focusing, then use Stand United on him, and make full use of the shield. After you get there Shadow Dash through as many people as possible, and once again throw Vorpal Blade on someone who is getting focused.

To save you some time and so that you don't have to scroll for an hour to find the matchup you want to I've devided them into spoilers alphabeticly, simply click it to open.

A-I

Warning: I do not say who wins these matchups, because it always comes down to skill, but I give tips about how to lane vs the certain champion.

Aatrox

Aatrox - When fighting against him in lane, try to keep your distance from him, because if he wants to he can kill you easily, so just keep your distance, try to sustain with Vorpal Blade and wait for late game.

Akali

Akali - When playing against her in top lane, ask your jungler to gank you after he gets his red, because you need to shut her down early, since after lv6 she'll stop you when she pleases. Also vs Akali get your Mercury's Treads as soon as possible!

Amumu

Amumu - When playing against this sad mummy, try to abuse the fact he runs out of mana fast, ward up and force fights with him, he will be forced to recall to regenerate mana and health, while you can't have mana problems and can regenerate health with Vorpal Blade

Annie

Annie - When playing against her, try to play as passive as you can, and don't let her stun you, because Annie's damage can force you out of lane even if you constantly regenerate with Vorpal Blade.

Blitzcrank

Blitzcrank - He is not a very common top laner, but if played well he can destroy anyone. The point is to stay behind your minions, and never prolong trades with him, if he uses Power Fist multiple times, he will deal a lot of damage to you and you will be forced to recall, giving him the early advantage he needs to snowball.

Cho'Gath

Cho'Gath - When playing against this monster, don't play too passive, you can win the trades if you dodge Rupture, and if you play it out well you can play out the advantage he uses a lot of mana.

Darius

Darius - As with any other champion, when fighting him you should be extremely careful, as he is a very aggresive laner, and deals way too much damage. Just try to keep your distance and lasthit with Vorpal Blade, if he ever grabs you use Shadow Dash to get away from him safely.

Diana

Diana - In this matchup, you need to convince your jungler to come to your lane early, you need to get ahead of her before lv6, because after lv6 you're a free kill for her unless you're ahead in items.

Dr. Mundo

Dr. Mundo - Simple winning strategy, don't go in melee, and poke him with Vorpal Blade while staying behind the minions, eventualy you can wear him out if you're maxing Vorpal Blade and using it whenever possible. Also try to push the lane, because that way you show your dominance and might scare him off with constant poke.

Elise

Elise - In this matchup, try to stay back, because Elise deals a lot of hp % damage, and Shen stacks health, so simply stay back, don't initiate and wait for late game where you can bring a much bigger impact to the teamfights.

Fiora

Fiora - You have to make your presence known in the lane, poke Fiora as often as possible, and don't be afraid to trade with her, but don't push the lane as she can cs under tower quite well. But after she gets Ravenous Hydra you should try to avoid dueling her unless you have Thornmail.

Galio

Galio - You have to gain an advantage on him before lv6, wether it's poking him out, or convincing your jungler to come top ASAP, because after second item he'll be a beast and be able to murder you because of his passive.

Gangplank

Gangplank - Don't trade with him, he can out trade you and he can remove your taunt, after lv6 simply ultimate to wherever he ults, that way you get ahead of him in assists and kills. Later try to focus him asap so he doesn't Parrrley your teammates.

Garen

Garen - Don't let the man spin! whenever he tried to spin, Shadow Dash and Feint, that way you block a lot of his damage and deal some of your own. Also constantly poke him with Vorpal Blade.

Hecarim

Hecarim - Try to keep your distance from him, but don't be afraid if he charges at you if you have the jungle warded. If you play it out well and don't fight arround HIS minions, you should win the trade 1v1.

Irelia

Irelia - When playing vs her, try to stay behind, but cs as much as possible with Vorpal Blade, she can hurt you a lot and Shadow Dash doesn't bother her at all because she still deals true damage, and she has more sustain in lane. So tell your jungler to help other lanes while you master cs'ing under tower.

J-R

Warning: I do not say who wins these matchups, because it always comes down to skill, but I give tips about how to lane vs the certain champion.

Jarvan IV

Jarvan IV - Try to get first blood on him early with Shadow Dash, and by early I mean at lv1, because after lv2 he will most likely have the knock up combo, so you can't trade with him anymore. But if played smart you can sustain in lane longer than him and get ahead in exp and cs.

Jax

Jax - When matched up against him, try to convice your jungler to come for a gank once you hit lv3, and then shut him down, because if you don't shut him down as soon as possible, he will bully you, and lateron your entire team.

Jayce

Jayce - Don't be afraid to trade with him, but be careful and dodge his Shock Blast, or else he'll bully you out very easily. Also try not to initiate in such positions where he could knock you back into a minion wave, or a tower.

Kayle

Kayle - You must trade with her early, and abuse the fact that she has to use a lot of mana to stay in ranged form, whenever she uses her ranged form, wait it out and Shadow Dash, that way she won't deal as much damage to you and you can poke her for quite a bit.

Kennen

Kennen - When laning against this ninja pikachu, try to sustain with Vorpal Blade and avoid Thundering Shuriken poke, and never Shadow Dash unless your jungler is right there ready to follow up, because if you get in melee range with him, he will get an easy stun on you and you will take a lot more damage.

Kha'Zix

Kha'Zix - He is not a very common top laner, but he can do very well if the opponent doesn't know how to play vs him. Just stay arround your minions so he doesn't get extra damage from isolation, and trade with him as much as possible, you can outsustain him in lane, and he'll be forced back because he has mana problems!

Lee Sin

Lee Sin - When facing off this blind monk, try to poke him as often as possible, and don't let him lifesteal back up, if he goes for cs - Vorpal Blade and Shadow Dash him, but only do so if you have the river warded obviously.

Lissandra

Lissandra - In this lane, try to position yourself in a way that Ice Shard doesn't hit you, and if you do initiate, and see her trying to run away with Glacial Path, Shadow Dash through her at the last moment, that won't let her teleport to it and alowe you to pick up a kill.

Malphite

Malphite - Abuse the fact that his early game damage is weak, and that he heavily relies on mana to deal damage. Also keep poking him with Vorpal Blade so his passive shield doesn't come up, that way you can go all-in easier.

Maokai

Maokai - Try to beat him early game, and avoid getting hit by saplings, because early game it's the main damage source for him. Don't be afraid to engage, as you can beat him quite easily because of his low AD.

MMordekaiser

Mordekaiser - Don't trade with him, because well... he's Mordekaiser, he'll simply do a lot of damage to you and have an unbreakable shield. So just practise last hitting under tower.

Nasus

Nasus - Don't trade with him, because if played well he can out trade you, but try to play aggresive and poke him from a distance, and don't let him farm Siphoning Strike without taking damage.

Nautilus

Nautilus - You can easily out trade him early game, but be careful for ganks and ward everything, as he can hook you and set up good opportunities for his jungler.

Nidalee

Nidalee - In this matchup, play aggresive, but be careful so you don't step in traps or get hit by spears, because you can 1v1 but if there's a trap debuff on you, there's a chance she might deal unexpected amounts of damage to you.

Nocturne

Nocturne - When fighting against him, it would be best to point in Shadow Dash at lv1 or lv2, before Nocturne has his spellshield which can block the taunt, and then try to engage on him and bully him out of the lane.

Nunu

Nunu - In this case, max out Feint before Vorpal Blade, because you can't trade this yeti who is a top lane monster, so the least you can do is block every single Ice Blast he throws at you.

Olaf

Olaf - In this matchup, get Shadow Dash at lv1 and ask your jungler for lv2 gank, because after he gets Reckless Swing and starts dealing that true damage there's nothing you can do about it. So ether you get an advantage early or just sit under tower and pretend you're happy.

Pantheon

Pantheon - Play aggresive, and try to block most of his spears with Feint, because your early game is stronger if you position yourself well and get good Shadow Dash opportunities.

Poppy

Poppy - Do not underestimate this little yordle's power. She's not a common top laner, but when she goes top lane she owns you, she deals a lot of damage and after lv6 she can dive you easily because of her amazing defenses increase from Diplomatic Immunity.

Quinn

Quinn - Try to close the range with her, keep Shadow Dashing her and eventualy you can bully her out, because she isn't very tanky. But be careful, because if she keeps her distance and pokes, you will get raped and it won't be fun.

Rammus

Rammus - Try to keep your distance, because all you can do is taunt and auto attack, while he can taunt you back, have a shield which reflects your damage and auto attack. But you have more sustain with Vorpal Blade and you don't use mana, so try to use those advantages and stay in lane longer and then gaining an exp advantage.

Renekton

Renekton - Play aggresive before lv6, as you can outsustain him early, but after lv6 play a little bit more defensively, as you get no benefit at lv6 for 1v1, but he gains a huge ultimate which will destroy you.

Rengar

Rengar - Stay away from bushes, and when he jumps on you Shadow Dash, try to keep your distance and poke with Vorpal Blade, because he can deal a lot more damage to you because of his ferocity stacks.

Riven

Riven - When playing in this matchup, play safe, try to cs from a distance with Vorpal Blade, as Riven can deal some heavy damage to you every time you come too close after lv2. After lv6 try to leave the lane with Stand United on the first possible chance, and tell your teammates to push tower, because lets say you get bottom tower, and Riven gets top tower, that way she roams and you can freely cs.

Rumble

Rumble - This little yordle mechanic always was and always will be a bully in top lane, so simply stay back, don't die and practise cs'ing under tower.

Ryze

Ryze - Bully this blue weirdo as much as you can! Your Shadow Dash makes him completely useless for the duration of the taunt, and if you play it out well you will get a lot more damage on him than he will on you. But ofcourse after lv6 play a little safer, as he will start dominating.

S-Z

Warning: I do not say who wins these matchups, because it always comes down to skill, but I give tips about how to lane vs the certain champion.

Shyvana

Shyvana - Do not try to anger this dragon, she will out trade you easily, but you can sustain longer than her, so I suggest pushing the waves, and making her ether lose tower early, or tank minions and have to recall.

Singed Lane

Singed - When singed is laning, try to ether get first blood on him by getting Shadow Dash at lv1, or simply play passive, because he will deal a lot more damage than you and still remain tankier than you.

Singed Proxy

Singed - When singed is proxy'ing against you, try to ward up your jungle and find his paths, when you see him going, call your jungler over for a gang bang. And if he tries to run by a tower... TAUNT HIM, he will take turret agro and won't be able to proxy for long.

Sion

Sion - Try to play aggresive, but not too aggresive, there is a chance you might scare him off and unintentionaly zone him, but if he has played this matchup before he will play aggresive, and hurt you big.

Skarner

Skarner - Try to harass him as much as possible, as he doesn't have very good sustain, uses mana and doesn't dish out too much damage. But be careful of his ultimate after lv6, and don't get dragged into tower range.

Teemo - Try to play passive, as teemo is a mean rat, he can poke down absolutely any top laner very easily with that overpowered poison, and after lv6 I suggest getting Oracle's Elixir if you have extra gold, because the mushrooms will destroy you.

Trundle

Trundle - Trade with him early, you have a lot more sustain, and you have a shield. But after lv6 play careful because of his ultimate's armor drain.

Tryndamere

Tryndamere - Play aggresive, don't let him cs and don't let him build up rage, but if he gets max rage stay away from him, because then he will crit you a lot and there's no chance you can out trade crits.

Udyr

Udyr - Tell this dude to go back to the jungle and stop using spirit guard udyr skin. Then don't trade him, play safely and keep your distance, as he can deal a lot more damage than you!

Vi

Vi - Trade with her before she gets Denting Blows, because that's her power spike against you, as you should have a lot of health and it WILL hurt you.

Vladimir

Vladimir - Don't trade with him, he has a lot more sustain than you will ever, and if the laning phase goes on too long, get Wit's End before Sunfire Cape for the magic resistance.

Volibear

Volibear - If he gets Frenzy first, stay away from him, he will already be stronger than you, but if he starts with another spell, get Shadow Dash at lv1, and trade him, try to pop his passive and then call your jungler.

Warwick

Warwick - Try to play careful vs him, keep your distance, and keep your health above half so he doesn't get increased movement speed, try to play careful and if he goes in for an ult try to make it under your tower.

Wukong

Wukong - Initiate on him as often as possible, and once you're sure that he used Decoy, use Shadow Dash instantly, that will taunt him even if he's cloaked and won't let him get away. But be careful after he hits lv11, as it is a huge power spike for him.

Xin Zhao

Xin Zhao - Try to keep your distance, he can dish out a lot more damage while still remaining decently tanky, don't let him get kills, even if he gets farmed you can be more useful in teamfights.

Yorick

Yorick - Try to fight with him a lot, in this situation you can even max Shadow Dash first for lesser cooldown, wear him out and don't let him get farmed.

Zac

Zac - Try to deny him cs, while still remaining defensive, he can actualy deal more damage to you than you can, but it would be close, so fake out ganks whenever you can (when your jungler hasn't shown presence lately) and make him fall back.

zed

Zed - Try to play aggresive, since Zed relies on spells a lot, try to stay away from his shadow and not get hit by double spells, because you have more sustain than him and early game can deal more damage. Altho after he gets Bilgewater Cutlass try to keep your distance.

League of Legends is a team based, real time strategy game set in a mythical world of swords & magic where epic battles decide the fate of mystical nations. Game players take on the role of a Summoner who conjures and controls champions to fight for them at the Institute of War. During game play champions gain experience and items to enhance their skills and abilities. How players develop and play their champions can be the difference between a crushing defeat or a glorious victory!